Elusor macrurus or the Mary River Turtle

This distinctive species of freshwater turtle was only described by scientists in 1994 from the Mary River in the hinterland north of the Brisbane region. As a fully grown adult it is probably our largest freshwater turtle, making it even more intriguing that it escaped notice by scientists for so long. The species was in fact known from hatchlings, which were sold in pet shops as 'penny turtles'. It was through this that the Mary River Turtle species came to the attention of Sydney turtle researcher John Cann. During a period spanning more than 20 years he tried to trace the source of the baby turtles that were being sent to the pet shops.

After many unsuccessful attempts he finally located the source, which was a property on the Mary River. John described the turtle with an American researcher in 1994. Like his previous discovery, the Fitzroy River turtle, the turtle from the Mary River is equally strange in its biology. Both species share a mode of 'cloacal breathing' where oxygen is taken in through the surface of the cloaca. It also is recognized as one of the most threatened species of freshwater turtle in eastern Australia.

Did you know...

The Mary River Turtle was only described by scientists in 1994 from the Mary River in the hinterland north of the Brisbane region.

The Mary River Turtle species were sold in pet shops as 'penny turtles'. It was through these that the species came to the attention of Sydney turtle researcher John Cann. It took John more than 20 years to trace the baby turtles to the Mary River.

Mary river turtles are recognized as one of the most threatened species of freshwater turtle in Australia.

Despite this, the Queensland government is planning on damming the Mary River at for the Traveston Crossing dam project. This dam will have untold consequences for the many rare species found in the Mary River, including this turtle.